Are species AVs more or less difficult to grow?

Hi all!

Finally getting some time to work with my plants and give them some proper care. I'm down to three AVs, two of which are actually doing pretty well. As I was looking at Violet Barn this morning, I noticed they have quite a few species AVs available. That made me wonder if the species are easier or more difficult to grow. Any thoughts on that?

And, regardless of whether they are easier or more difficult, I NEED a Saintpaulia tongwensis! LOL Anybody have that to share in any form? Plantlet, leaves or seeds would be great. I have discovered that I have a few things to trade, so maybe we could work something out. ^_^

Thanks and hugs!

From what I have heard, they are not much different. I'd imagine if you can grow the hybrids, you can probably grow the species. Someone here must grow them and will let us know. Maybe someone will have some pictures

I want to try a few as well. In the local AV club there is a member who grows some, and is starting one for me, forget the name, begins with an "ion" I think...ionthus maybe? They are so beautiful, I would love to see them actually growing in the wild. I love all violets, even have a hard time weeding out the wild ones that grow rampant in my yard....

Like alot of Africa's beautiful natives, I've read that the violet habitat is slowly being destroyed.

I have two of species fornasus and the bloom is beautiful ........so is the foliage.
A year ago, our club president gave each of us an ionantha to grow...........they grow just like hybrids.

Here is a bloom from fornasus..........giant blooms which is unusual I think for a species??

Thing is, I can't grow hybrids very well, so I was hoping the species might work better for me. LOL I guess I could certainly try them. I couldn't do worse with them than with the hybrids, so why not try?

Gail, that one is gorgeous! What could I trade ya for a leaf? Are you sure that fornasus is the name? I looked everywhere and can't find it... I'd love to see a pic of the whole plant, too.

I found a picture once................when I have time...........I will find it again..............it is like a sub species.............I have an extra plant you may have............

Well it's truly beautiful, no matter what it is. I'll try to find a Hoya to lop a hunk off of or an Orchid you don't have to trade you for that plant. Thanks! ^_^

Would rather trade a hunk off of a hoya..........will send by tomorrow.............since I am sending Round Robin in the morning....will hunt her picture down later..........is either fornasus or formosus.........but think formosus.

I am wrong wrong wrong..................I was thinking of a species strep, Amy!!!!!! I don't have any species avs...........long day..............confused thinking............

LOL That's ok, Gail! What I thought was so awesome about it was that it reminded me of a Strep flower, but when I didn't find an AV species of that name, it never even dawned on me to check Streps. I'm confused, too. ;o)

So now that we have that cleared up, have you grown any species AVs and do you think I could? You know how much trouble I have with them. ^_^

Funambule is covered in buds again, though. It seems to be the only AV I can truly grow. Star Trick looks pretty good, but never offers even a hint of a bud. :oP

Here's AV Funambule Bet you didn't think I'd keep it alive this long! LOL

So pretty, Raingazer.

I thought growing species avs was boring personally!!! Their blooms just aren't nice like hybrids.....................

Your Funambule IS STILL ALIVE.............LET'S CELEBRATE, AMY!

Thank you, Sally! ^_^

LOL Gail! Do you remember when you sent me that one? It's been at least a year, if not more! I bet you didn't dream it would still be alive! LOL

I love Funamble! Have two rooted leaves, no babies yet...the flowers are so beautiful. Your plant looks great, how come you have trouble with your other violets?

Hey Rain.............I am growing av babies by the zillions now again. You can be the recipient
of a few good ones when they grow up a little!!

Gorgeous, Amy! Congrats on growing her so well:)

jmp, Funambule is a beauty when it blooms! You'll love it! I have NO idea what my deal with AVs is. It's a running joke amongst those who have known me for the past few years that I simply cannot grow AVs. I can root anything, grow anything from seed, snatch anything back from the brink of death, but not AVs. The very few that I actually get to survive never bloom. I've tried natural light in windows facing all directions, artificial lights (2 and 4 bulbs, T8s and T12s, and all the different cool/warm combinations), a hundred different potting mixes, as many fertilizers as are available in the free world, and a few just plain crazy ideas (anybody remember the Sprite bottle self-watering pot I made?? LOL). Funambule is in a ceramic self-watering pot and is doing quite well. It doesn't bloom as often as other people's AVs do, but it does bloom, which is a huge feat for me. I'm completely satisfied with its performance! LOL

I mentioned in a previous post in this thread that AV Star Trick is alive but won't bud up. Well, imagine my surprise when I noticed a small bud on it this evening! It's in an Oyama self-watering pot, and is nowhere near as large as Funambule. I think next time I'm at Walmart I'll get a ceramic one similar to the one Funambule is in to repot Star Trick into. I'm thinking I'll put young AV plants in the Oyama pots to get them started, then when they're mature and ready to start blooming, I'll repot them to the ceramic pots. Maybe that will help.

Here's AV Star Trick. Hopefully I'll have flower pictures to show you one day soon.

One of my first violets was a species--Ionantha--grew like a weed and bloomed frequently---wish I still had that plant. I foolishly gave it away to make room for named hybrids when I first discovered them.

I'm thinking I'll enjoy growing the species AVs. I love to grow from seed, and some of the species Sinns and Streps are far nicer, in my opinion, than the hybrids. I know in some plant families, the pickiness can be bred out of them, but if you think about where AVs grow naturally, and how careful most people are with them in their homes, it makes sense to me that perhaps the pickiness and delicateness have been bred *into* them rather than out of them. Maybe some of the older hybrids would be hardier, too. I think I'll look into trying a few of those. Perhaps Tommie Lou and a few of the oldies like that. I used to have a list of the old, original hybrids that were still available. If they've been around since the 1950's or before, then you know they've gotta be tough plants! LOL

Great logic! ^_^

Pretty violet Jan!! I know Tommie Lou is readily available,but many AV's 20 to 30 years old are extemely hard to find. There is a list.I think it's on the AVSA website


Lynn

I have never heard of this site but I love old violets and found this when googling??
http://www.violetventure.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=9&main_page=index

I think that site is on our DG list.I am intriqued by some of the things they offer,but am not ordering anything right now..

If I had growing room, I would definitely order from them even though I know nothing about them. But, I don't even have room to plant up babies I already have................

I haven't read the DG list in over two years.......maybe I need to keep up with the stickys........

Oooh, Violet Venture has a lot of Senk's. If only I could grow the blasted things... LOL

Violet Barn has Happy Harold, Nancy Reagan, and Tommie Lou on their Collector's Treasure pag.. http://www.violetbarn.com/collector's_treasure.htm They've been around for years and years. Maybe I could grow those... Ugh, why do y'all have to tempt me with AVs??? I know I started this thread, but it's easier to blame all of you! LOL ;o)

Oh - wow!! Been looking for Happy Harold! Thanks!

i have grotei that was doing just wonderful for me, then all of the sudden started going down hill, still don't know why, most of it is gone, so i did dome it & it is now starting to come back. i don't think they are naturally any differnt to grow than an other violet.

jmp, I had actually decided to take the plunge and buy Happy Harold and a couple others and they're sold out of him! Do you think it's a sign that I shouldn't?? LOL

Bonnie, I saw a picture of grotei last night. It's a trailer, right? It's lovely, but I've never done well with trailers (even worse than with regular AVs, if you can imagine) so I don't know how that would do for me. I'd love to see a pic of yours, if you have one.

Raingazer, look at this pic of Happy Harold - no, i didn't take it, came from a website called Candy's Violets (.com) so I am assuming that
"Candy" took the photo. I can see why it is sold out, it's gorgeous!!

Am I allowed to post someone elses photo here as long as I give them credit?

This message was edited Jun 25, 2009 7:47 PM

Edited again to add link to photo....http://www.candysviolets.com/index.html

This message was edited Jun 26, 2009 10:13 PM

Jmp24,
What a lovely AV!! If you are worried about posting a picture from a website,just post the link.

Lynn

'Happy Harold' is just gorgeous! Here's Rob's picture of it from Violet Barn: http://www.violetbarn.com/happy_harold.htm I'll keep a watch to see if he gets it back in stock soon, or maybe one of the other sites or somebody on eBay will have it.

I only post my own pictures. If it's not mine, I just link to it. That way there's no chance of somebody getting their feathers ruffled about their picture. ;o)

Oh my goodness, Rain! That is truly on my top want list now!

"Am I allowed to post someone elses photo here as long as I give them credit?"

I can speak from experience...I got in deep do-do with the photographer by posting her photo on this forum--even though she had sent me the photo months before, and I made sure to give her credit. Always best to post a link.

Jan,
I agree all the way!! Some websites (and some individuals) get very upset if you use their pictures,even though it is not for commercial use.I have pictures from DG saved on my computer,just for my own veiwing pleasure and when someone is looking for a picture of a certain plant I would love to help them out,but I am always afraid someone will object,even if I clearly state it is THEIR picture.

The only reason I would ever get upset if someone used my picture would be because they were on ebay with it.............i would even offer to give someone a picture for anything on DG.........
I am flattered when someone says they would like particular picture...........but, I guess we are are different.....and that's what makes the world go 'round.

advice taken, link added....it prob. wouldn't bother me if someone used a photo of mine as long as they didn't claim it as their own, but you never know!

Raingazer, the photo you posted is awesome as well! What a gorgeous violet - definitely let me know if you see it resurface for sale anywhere, and I will keep an eye out too.

I should be sleeping but I find myself reading older posts on the forum and learning more and more. I am entranced with Happy Harold and would love to have him; I think all those little scribbles I have on notes must become a wish list. I'd just be beside myself if I forgot how adorable this plant is and never found Harold again. From the frying pan and into the fire. I just did a search and Rob's Violet Barn has him at sometimes at least. The text said that they didn't always have them and you have to buy a plant not a leaf I think.

Hey, all. I have a couple of old books that gives a list of the wild ones (18, according to one book) and a list of the original hybrids in the US. Grown by a nursery in CA called Armacost & Royston in 1927 from German seeds there were 2 named ones,Blue Boy and Sailor Boy. From English seeds came Admiral, Amethyst, Commodore, Mermaid, Neptune, Norseman, Number 32, and Viking. All were violet-purple colored flowers. Those were, as far as I know, the very named hybrids. The other old (1962) book I have is about miniature plants of all kinds. Some of the mini AVs listed are Bergen Strawberry Sherbet, Calico Kitten, Coco, Cheer U, Dancing Doll, Coral Satin, Double Take, Icicle Trinket, Tippy Pink, Silver Bells, Small Change, Naught N Nice, Mini-Mignon, Midget Bon-Bon. Also, in this book it shows a miniature plant growing in a thimble, and blooming, called Sinningia Pusillla. These old books are fun to read, I think. ChuLin

I think a lot of us have grown sinningia Pusilla
http://www.dollyyeh.idv.tw/sinn_pusilla_pruns.jpg

Jan....don't want to forget to send you the book of 50 years with the AVSA.........

ChuLin.....once you start into these gesneriads, you find yourself reading everything you can get your hands on..............that is great info. you have there! Thanks